The Sheet Set Manager is nothing new in the AutoCAD world, having been around since the release.  However, it has been my understanding that a large percentage of firms haven’t utilized this great tool.  With the increasing popularity of AutoCAD’s vertical programs such as Civil 3D, it appears that more and more people are using sheet sets, but maybe aren’t using them to their fullest.  The following text is a description given to the Sheet Set Manager by AutoCAD:

“A sheet set is an organized collection of sheets from several drawing files. A sheet is a selected layout from a drawing file.

Sets of drawings are the primary deliverable for most design groups. Sets of drawings communicate the overall design intent of a project and provide the documentation and specifications for the project. However, managing sets of drawings manually can be complicated and time consuming.

With the Sheet Set Manager, you can manage drawings as sheet sets. A sheet set is an organized and named collection of sheets from several drawing files. A sheet is a selected layout from a drawing file. You can import a layout from any drawing into a sheet set as a numbered sheet.”

I think this description of sheet sets and the Sheet Set Manger (SSM) is more than adequate.  It paints as much a picture about sheet sets and the SSM as possible without depicting all of the functions, features, and procedures-which is what I’m about to do for you.

There are a few ways to open the Sheet Set Manager.  The command is SHEETSET, or you can hit Ctrl+4 on your keyboard.  Likewise, SHEETSETHIDE and a repeat of Ctrl+4 will close the Sheet Set Manager.  Prior to the Ribbon in AutoCAD, you can also open the SSM from the File drop-down menu.  There are a couple more commands that work in conjunction with the SSM and several system variables.  Below is a thorough list of those commands and variables, although I can’t guarantee that it is all-inclusive.

NEWSHEETSET – Creates a new sheet set

OPENSHEETSET – Opens a selected sheet set

SSFOUND – Displays the sheet set path and file name if a search for a sheet set is successful

SSLOCATE – Controls whether the sheet set associated with a drawing is located and opened when the drawing is

SSMAUTOOPEN – Controls the display behavior of the SSM when a drawing associated with a sheet is opened

SSMSHEETSTATUS – Controls how the status data when a sheet set is refreshed

SSMSTATE – Indicates whether the SSM window is open or closed